Safety attachment for railway-switches



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H. BROWN 8v J. GOUG'H. SAFETY ATTACHMENT TOR RAILWAY SWTTQEBT,

No. 409,168. Patentad. Aug. 20, 1889.

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SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR RAILWAY SWITCHES. No. 409,168. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

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UNITED STATES,

ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BROIVN AND JOHN GOUGH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SAFETY ATTAC H M ENT FO R RA! LWAY-SWITC H ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,168, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed May 21, 1889. Serial No. 311,535. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY BROWN and JOHN GOUGH, of Columbus, county of Franklin, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Safety Attachment for Railway-Switch Stands, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

In the operation of switches accidents frequently occur from the fact that switchmen will sometimes open switches and by some madvertance, particularly in the night-time, forget to close them and go away and leave them open. The result is that trains are switched off, frequently causing destruction of life and property. Our invention is de' signed to prevent switchmen from leaving switches open, thus preventing such destructive accidents.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the parts in position as when the switch is open. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the parts in position as when the switch is closed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the parts in position as when the switch is closed, the dotted lines indicating how the switch-handle may be turned on its pivot to operate the switch or to lock the switch.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings, A indicates a suitable base-plate or support of a switch-stand; B, a standard or frame, of any suitable character, resting upon the baseplate and carrying ordinary bearings C and D for the perpendicular signal-shaft E, which carries the signal-disk F.

G indicates a switch secured to the shaft and provided with a pivoted handle H, adapted to turn down and engage in the notches I, to lock the switch open or closed, as may be desired.

All of the parts thus far described are of ordinary construction and may be made in any suitable form.

K indicates a bracket projecting upward from the standard, which carries a block or cylinder .TJ, notched on opposite sides, as

shown, so as to form inclined cam surfaces M M.

N, Fig. 2,is a sleeve,lu.g, or bracket secured to the shaft, to which is pivoted an arm 0, to the free end of which is secured a hoop or cage P, of any suitable character.

Q indicates a cap secured to the shaft by means of a screw R or otherwise, and serving merely to cover and shelter the parts immediately below it; but this cap, although preferable, is not indispensable to the use of our invention. receiving the arm 0 when it is raised to a vertical position.

The operation of ourinvention is as follows: Suppose the switch to be in the closed position, as indicated in Fig. 2. The arm 0 and the hoop P will then stand in a vertical position, as shown. Now if the switch-handle be moved so as to unlock the switch, and the switch be turned either to the right 01' the left, so as to open it, as shown in Fig. 1, the arm 0 and hoop P will, by force of gravity, assume a horizontal position, and the hoop will surround and cage the switchman, so that he cannot conveniently and will not be liable to go away and leave the switch open. To close the switch, it is merely turned back to the closed position, as usual; but in doing that the arm 0 impinges against one of the inclined cam-surfaces M and is raised, carrying up the hoop P again to the vertical position, as shown in the drawings. Being inclosed within a hoop or cage while the switch is open, the switchman will always be reminded, before leaving the switch, to close it and release himself in that way.

\Vhat we claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

1. A safety attachment for a switch-stand, consisting of the combination, with the signal-shaft, of a pivoted arm secured to the shaft and carrying a hoop or cage at its free end, and an inclined cam surface against which the arm bears when the switch is turned, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch-staml, the combination of a It is provided with a slot S for bracket K, supporting a notched block or cyl- In testimony of all Which We have hereunto inder L, having cam-surfaces M, and an arm subscribed our names. 0, pivoted to the switch-shaft and carrying a cage P, substantially as set forth. HENRY BROWN. 5 3. In a switch-stand, the combination of a JOHN GOUGH.

bracket K, supporting a notched block or cylinder L, having cam-surfaces M, an arm 0, Vitnesses: pivoted to the switch-shaft and carrying a IT. M. BALL, cage P, and a cap Q, slotted at S, substantially '1. WV. HAMPTON.

10 as set forth. 

